Bullying and harassment in delivery offices

clashcityrocker · Post by **clashcityrocker** » 17 Nov 2017, 15:45

I think a lot of managers on a day to day basis have their focus primarily on clearing the office.
If you eventually get them to lift their heads and realise something else is going on (bereavement/illness/divorce etc) they sometimes do behave like real human beings.

crimson king · Post by **crimson king** » 22 Nov 2017, 17:14

Starting to see my first signs of management pressure this week and last, with overtime being questioned. Got a gruff 'why is anyone going over on a Tuesday?' when doing the usual morning overtime bargaining ritual, to which my even gruffer response was 'because there's a s**t load of packets and overweights.' Got left alone then.

It might have been a Tuesday, but there's a certain something happening in just over a month that might have some bearing...

Zop0 · Post by **Zop0** » 12 Mar 2018, 10:26

I was wondering if someone could give me some information, but I want to try hide my identity by not giving too much away.

I'm still fresh to Royal Mail to begin with. My first week was great, I went out with someone and we done a short walk for a day and then went over the booklet with the traffic light tick boxes. The second week I started to feel really stressed. I am meant to be on a 19.5 contract and everyday I am going over 1,2 or three hours. An example I had recently - I was asked to work overtime for 6.5 hours, which I agreed, I started at nine and yet didn't get finished until 6.. with no breaks. I don't know how the guys work the breaks or whatever, but my feet where covered in blisters and my left knee went bad.

I raised my concerns of going over my time and finding it too much pressure, as I still don't know the basic fundamentals of the job. The manager just started rhyming off how long each loop should take and 20 minutes extra if your new and walked away from me. I was then approached by another manager asking could I be more efficient in future in regards to that shift I worked for nine hours. I was sent out without a PDA, and I was getting handed my trolley, the two bags and plus I told to take the paper boy type bags, full of packets to put over the trolley handle.. which is over your weight and not following proper safety measures I'm assuming?

I was coming home every day exhausted and I'm not afraid to admit that I had a break down due to the amount of stress, which I've been given medication and I need to refer to my doctor.

I thought I got lucky getting the job with Royal Mail, but the lack of care of duty and the attitude from the managers makes me want to tell them to stuff there job. 9.51 isn't worth my happiness and mental health.

Sorry to vent, I just want to know if others have been in a similar situation and what have they done?

Post by **Brandy** » 12 Mar 2018, 12:08

By a lot of posts this bullying and harrassment by so called managers of RM still hasnt been addressed by the union!

yellowbelly · Post by **yellowbelly** » 12 Mar 2018, 15:21

I was asked to work overtime for 6.5 hours, which I agreed,

Hindsight's a wonderful thing but you've probably realised now not to offer to do O/T until you've got used to delivering.

I was sent out without a PDA

WTF!!! - No wonder you took ages - management incompetence!

handed my trolley, the two bags and plus I told to take the paper boy type bags, full of packets to put over the trolley handle.. which is over your weight and not following proper safety measures I'm assuming

Just to clarify - just a bit confused as to what you had to take out and which type of trolley - what mail did you have in your High Capacity Trolley? - 'the two bags' and then another bag over the handle full of packets? Or was it even a light weight trolley (if it was two bags either side)? Never heard of putting a bag of parcels over
the handle of a LWT....

Whatever the load was see the SSOW for High Capacity Trolley here: https://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communi ... 36&t=31871" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.

Bag over the handle possibly against security procedures as well as making the trolley unwieldy: https://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communi ... hp?id=4408" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

didn't get finished until 6.. with no breaks

Take your break(s) - if you go sick and you say it's because you didn't have a break management will close ranks and say 'We never stopped you, it's your own fault'

These forums are brilliant for picking up nuggets of information and advice which will help you but which management will never tell
you and unfortunately your own colleagues will know but forget to tell you because it's second nature to them. Knowledge is the power to defend yourself!

If you haven't already - join the Union and find out who your office rep is and get him/her on board with what's going off.

Don't let them get you down!

Zop0 · Post by **Zop0** » 12 Mar 2018, 20:15

Hindsight's a wonderful thing but you've probably realised now not to offer to do O/T until you've got used to delivering.

I have quickly learned that. Your the managers best friend and they exploit the people that will always say yes. Your pulled on performance if you say no.

WTF!!! - No wonder you took ages - management incompetence!

Especially when your writing out the bit of paper the customer signs(Sorry I don't know the names), hoping there going to be in, then to write the red docket if they aren't.

Just to clarify - just a bit confused as to what you had to take out and which type of trolley - what mail did you have in your High Capacity Trolley?

It was the one that looks like a golf bag pull along. I had one bag full of letters, one full of packets on the other and one of the thin material bags with packets. I was turning over letters and trying to search both the bags to find that's maybe been left on the rack, or its in the van with the bulk. Then when I finished my first loop, I was getting handed the same thing over and over.

If you haven't already - join the Union and find out who your office rep is and get him/her on board with what's going off.

I joined the first day. I emailed a high representative today who was there on the first day and I give him his dues, he rang me within 15 minutes. He informed me that I'm not the first person from my depo to reach out to him, and he mentioned its one of the worst. He give me some pointers and to expect a letter if I am off for a week. My depo rep rang me very shortly after that and he seemed like a nice guy. He gave me a tip to never go in without him, they will try to be sneaky and do it in the afternoon.

I understand its a business at the end of the day and I'm trying my best, but nobody should have to be subject to that sort of mental abuse. It just concerns me that this topic dates back 2012 and how many people may have remained silent. These managers are ex posties with no previous experience in a managerial role, with no compassion or duty of care for people in lower positions. In my eyes the whole system is flawed and Royal Mail is failing its workforce. That's just my personal opinion and I hope some can agree.

Thank you yellowbelly for taking the time to reply.

PackageForYou · Post by **PackageForYou** » 12 Mar 2018, 21:45

Zop0 wrote:
Hindsight's a wonderful thing but you've probably realised now not to offer to do O/T until you've got used to delivering.
I have quickly learned that. Your the managers best friend and they exploit the people that will always say yes. Your pulled on performance if you say no.

WTF!!! - No wonder you took ages - management incompetence!
Especially when your writing out the bit of paper the customer signs(Sorry I don't know the names), hoping there going to be in, then to write the red docket if they aren't.

Just to clarify - just a bit confused as to what you had to take out and which type of trolley - what mail did you have in your High Capacity Trolley?
It was the one that looks like a golf bag pull along. I had one bag full of letters, one full of packets on the other and one of the thin material bags with packets. I was turning over letters and trying to search both the bags to find that's maybe been left on the rack, or its in the van with the bulk. Then when I finished my first loop, I was getting handed the same thing over and over.

If you haven't already - join the Union and find out who your office rep is and get him/her on board with what's going off.
I joined the first day. I emailed a high representative today who was there on the first day and I give him his dues, he rang me within 15 minutes. He informed me that I'm not the first person from my depo to reach out to him, and he mentioned its one of the worst. He give me some pointers and to expect a letter if I am off for a week. My depo rep rang me very shortly after that and he seemed like a nice guy. He gave me a tip to never go in without him, they will try to be sneaky and do it in the afternoon.

I understand its a business at the end of the day and I'm trying my best, but nobody should have to be subject to that sort of mental abuse. It just concerns me that this topic dates back 2012 and how many people may have remained silent. These managers are ex posties with no previous experience in a managerial role, with no compassion or duty of care for people in lower positions. In my eyes the whole system is flawed and Royal Mail is failing its workforce. That's just my personal opinion and I hope some can agree.

Thank you yellowbelly for taking the time to reply.

I too am new and in the same position ; as saddening as the situation is for any person to experience I thank you for sharing which helps me combat the gas lighting from management and willing colleagues.

Keep smiling ;)

What are we going to do about this long term?

Zop0 · Post by **Zop0** » 13 Mar 2018, 08:08

I too am new and in the same position ; as saddening as the situation is for any person to experience I thank you for sharing which helps me combat the gas lighting from management and willing colleagues.

Have you contacted your union rep? I received an email at the start of the job 'Welcome To The CWU' then it should have your depo name. I contacted the email under the heading 'Branch Contact Details'.

What are we going to do about this long term?

I can PM you and let you know the outcome once I return to work if you like? If its the case it continues, I'll just be walking out. I don't let people threaten me with the fear of job security. Its funny in my depo, they wonders why so many people leave within the first month and is it any wonder. 100% happening nationwide!

Keep smiling ;)

You too mate

Zop0 · Post by **Zop0** » 13 Mar 2018, 10:01

Also any time they have you out past 4pm. Refer them to this https://business.help.royalmail.com/app ... t-times%3F" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. The union guy mentioned this to me, and said I shouldn't have been out walking so late to begin with.

Postie45 · Post by **Postie45** » 15 Mar 2018, 20:39

Zop0 wrote:Also any time they have you out past 4pm. Refer them to this https://business.help.royalmail.com/app ... t-times%3F" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. The union guy mentioned this to me, and said I shouldn't have been out walking so late to begin with.

the key word is "endeavour" RM can argue that most of the time a delivery will be assigned to a certain person and the workload tends to be suitable for everything to be delivered by the times they state. When people go off sick or its a particularly heavy day, its not seen as typical circumstances so overtime is used so they "endeavoured" to have the mail delivered by 3pm but they failed in their "endeavour" So its a bit pointless to refer them that, unless someone is literally going past these times most days, this is where there clearly is an issue that needs to be addressed.

paulsmd · Post by **paulsmd** » 16 Mar 2018, 09:58

tommyrep wrote:Without any question of doubt, this is THE single most important issue going on at the moment, that effects delivery staff on a daily basis and appears to be rife throughout most of the DO's in the UK.
The intimidation directed towards individuals, who only wish to work their contracted hours, has been allowed to go on unaddressed by the Union at national level for far too long. The fact that the duty spans are often unachievable within normal time, results in pressure being put onto OPG's to complete delivery - with poor performance accusations directed towards these individuals who only wish to work contracted hours. This needs to be resolved nationally with the union and senior RM management urgently, that is the only solution. MANAGERS need to be instructed to stop this ongoing intimidation towards staff who wish to cut off at their finishing time and have suitable contingency plans in place!
Some areas seem to be worse than others but a national approach is required to stop the maverick managers out there, from imposing their own interpretation of "procedure" onto staff. Call it bullying or harassment, but I prefer to describe it as "intimidation" towards individuals who are only trying to "do the job properly". That is starting on time, having meal breaks and using the tools provided by RM to do the job safely! These people often find themselves under the most pressure and this cannot be allowed to continue without the CWU doing something at the very highest level within the HR establishment on behalf of those bullied staff !!!!

Very well put,I agree 100% with everything you said. This has been going on far to long now.

theeggster · Post by **theeggster** » 18 Mar 2018, 19:34

Hi is the official cut off procedure on here anywhere.We absorbing like mad and feel forced to go past my time and do not want to.

Post by **POSTMAN** » 18 Mar 2018, 20:48

theeggster wrote:Hi is the official cut off procedure on here anywhere.We absorbing like mad and feel forced to go past my time and do not want to.

https://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communi ... 36&t=18563" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

BELIAL · Post by **BELIAL** » 18 Mar 2018, 22:08

SIX years old thread and nothing has changed apart from it getting worse and more widespread . Think of all that cost and damage and it won't have got them a penny in profit, count up recruitment ,HR ,ATOS ,and the one that will explode ,tribunals plus uso fines ; mind boggling .

Creditshampoo · Post by **Creditshampoo** » 01 Apr 2018, 22:15

How do you get them to actually investigate properly and not just fob you off.
Countless complaints, investigating person absolutely useless

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